A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

A GLAD TIDING

What is a glad tiding? It is a surprise, something very nice, something that calms you. If you have been nallghty, you do not receive glad tidings. No, then you are punished, and punishment is not nice. But if you have really done something wrong, you deserve punishment, just as Adam and Eve did. You know what they had done wrong and what the punishment was. If was a heavy punishment. They must leave paradise and they may not stay forever on earth. The Lord said, “I have made you from dust, from the earth, and when you die, you shall return to dust.”

Outside of paradise, Adam and Eve must work hard. Outside of paradise, thistles spring forth from the ground. They prick, and that hurts. In paradise they never had pain.

The serpent was also punished. Henceforth he must creep on his belly and eat dust. The devil was also punished. It was a good thing; otherwise there would never be a glad tiding. The Lord said, “Devil, enemy, you think that you can spoil everything that I have made, don’t you? Indeed, you have tried, but it shall not succeed. You shall be punished. You lallghed too soon. You made evil plans, but I have also made a plan.”

And now comes the glad tiding. It is not for the devil; oh no! The Lord tells of a great wonder. What happened? Becallse of sin, becallse of the wrong, the door of heaven had been shut. Now no one can go in anymore. Adam and Eve have eaten of the forbidden tree. They have listened to the bar. Their heart has become black through sin, and filthy through disobedience. That is why you are born with a black heart too. You have not eaten of the tree. But the Lord had told Adam, that if he was disobedient, all his children would be born disobedient. A baby looks so sweet to you, doesn’t it? But even a baby has a sinful heart. It’s heart is full of sin. A person can soon see this. A small child can also be angry. Probably you are also angry sometimes if you don’t get your way; you hit and are angry with your friends. Those are sins that come forth from the heart. Don’t you see that you are just the same as Adam was? You have not eaten of the tree, but you do other disobedient things. Then you listen to the devil too. The Lord speaks the same words against you as against Adam. What does He say? He says, “You no longer have My image. I cannot be your Father. You listen to the father of lies.”

But still there is a glad tiding. What a wonder that is! There comes a message full of love. The Lord tells His plan. Someone will come from heaven to the earth. He is the Lord Jesus, the Son of God. He will make everything right again, which the devil has spoiled. He will make war with the devil. Who will win? The Lord Jesus will. He can open the door to heaven again. The devil stands in the way, and wants to keep heaven closed. But the Lord Jesus shall cast the devil away. Away … away … away .… That is his punishment.

Children and older people whom the devil holds fast can be loosed by the Lord Jesus. What good news this is! The Lord Jesus is much stronger than the devil. What a glad tiding! The Lord promised all this in paradise. In that way can good still come. Adam can no longer make it right, and neither can Eve. Neither can the children whom they receive. Nor can you do it. But the Lord Jesus can. He shall be born as a small child. He shall walk on earth as a grown man. He shall do wonders, healing the sick and forgiving sins. He shall remain on earth until His work is done.

It is a difficult work, but He does it becallse He has so much love in His heart. He has love for His Father and for His children. He receives many children from His Father for the work which He does. He shall live forever with these children in heaven. In heaven it is just as glorious as it was in paradise.

What a glad tiding! What a wonder! People who have done wrong can still come in heaven. The Lord Jesus died on a cross for those people. The people wanted to hurt Him and kill Him. In this way the devil still tried to conquer the Lord Jesus, but he must lose. For the Lord Jesus paid for sin. Did He pay with money? No, with His blood! That blood makes filthy hearts clean. And you need that blood in order to be a child of the Lord.

For the Lord Jesus makes it right again only for His children. Then He says to them: “I will forgive your sins. I will bury your sins in the grave.” The Lord Jesus also Himself went into the grave. But He came out again. He became alive. First dead, then alive. Becallse of Him you also can be blessed. You may hear a glad tiding. It can still be made right. But then you need the Lord Jesus. Then you will receive a new heart. If you do not yet have a new heart, then the devil is the master of your heart. If you die thus, you must stay with him forever. And… he shall torment you forever. But you are blessed if you become a child of the Lord. Then the Lord comes to live in your heart. Then when you die, you may come with Him in heaven. You may be together with the angels, and with other children and grown people whom the Lord Jesus has purchased with His blood.

Keep asking then, until the Lord also speaks to you: “Yes, child, I will forgive your sins also.” Shall we pray together:

The many evils I have done each day,
Look not upon them, Lord, I pray;
Though they be many, wilt Thou make
Me clean and pure, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

-Doven-Contact

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

Have you ever made a promise? Have you always kept your promises? Making a promise is often easier then keeping it. The Bible also speaks of promises. Sometimes they are called vows, oaths, or covenants. But there we can also read of broken promises and vows which were not kept. However, we do know that God’s Word is true; “the testimony of the Lord is sure.” Even Balaam had to confess, “God is not a man, that He should he; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” The poet of psalter 306 has said it in this way:

On whom but God can we rely,
The Lord our God Who reigns on high,
Who condescends to see and know
The things of heaven and earth below?

O that we, whether young or old, might truly believe His Word! The Lord Jesus said to the Jews, “Becallse I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.” Must this also be said of us? Do we rather believe that which is not true? May our prayer be: “Teach me, O Lord, Thy way of truth, and from it I will not depart.”

Most of the questions this month are about promises, vows, covenants, etc. It is again a crossword puzzle, but do think about that which you read as you search for the answers, and may the Lord Himself plant His truth within our hearts.

ACROSS:

1._________ vowed a vow at Bethel, saying, “If God will be with me,… then shall the Lord be my God.”

4. Abimelech said to Isaac, “Let there be now _________ oath betwixt us.”

5. Certain of the Jews bound themselves _________ a curse, saying they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Palll.

8. The angel of the Lord said to the children of Israel, “I said, I will _________ break my covenant with you.”

9. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the_________, shall He not much more clothe you?

11. The Lord by Jeremiah, “If these ordinances depart from before Me, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a _________ before Me for ever.”

14. Hannah vowed, “If Thou wilt give unto Thine handmaid a man child, I will give him unto the Lord, and there shall no razor come upon his______”

15. Ahab covenanted with Benhadad, “Thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus _________my father made is Samaria.”

17. Samson’s mother was told, “The child shall be a _______ unto God from the womb.”

20. God promised Abram, “I will make of thee a great______”

22.__________vowed a vow while he abode at Geshur in Syria.

24. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will __________ them His covenant.

25. The Lord said in the psalms, “Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not __________unto David.”

27. Laban said to Jacob, “Let us make a covenant, and let it __________for a witness between me and thee.”

28. Abraham’s servant said, “My master made me __________, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the dallghters of the Canaanites.”

29. In Hebrews the Lord, speaking of a new covenant He would make with the house of Israel, said, “For all shall __________Me, from the least to the greatest.”

DOWN:

1.__________ made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”

2. In the book of Hebrews we read of Jesus, the mediator of the new__________

3. Jepthah vowed that whatever came forth of the doors of his house to meet him, he would offer it up for a __________ offering.

4. Jacob once said, “All these things __________ against me.”

6. Balaam said to Balak, “Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must__________?”

7. At Pentecost Peter said, “For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off, __________ as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

10. The Lord Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Thou hast well said, I have________ husband.”

12.__________ was one of those who gave their hands that they would put away their strange wives in the time of Ezra.

13. The people said unto Joshua, “The Lord __________ God will we serve, and His voice will we obey.”

15. In the time of Asa, we read that “all Judah rejoiced __________the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart.”

16. The Lord said, “I do________ (3 words) in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth.”

18. A son of Coz, as found in I Chronicles 4.

19. In Isaiah the Lord said, “Before they call, I will _______.

21. The Lord said to Jacob, “Thy seed shall be__________ the dust of the earth.”

23. In Deuteronomy where the ten commandments are repeated, the Lord said, “Hear, O Israel, … that ye may __________ them, and keep, and do them.”

24. A time to rend, and a time to __________; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

26. Peter said, “This__________ the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”

(Your answers should be sent to Garret J. Moerdyk, 5211 Wood-mont Drive, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001).

The answers to the quiz of last month are as follows —

“Oh That I Had Wings Like A Dove” Psalm 5:6

Overflowed -Psalm 78:20

Herb -Psalm 37:2

Taketh -Psalm 147:10

Hart -Psalm 42:1

Adder -Psalm 91:13

Top -Psalm 102:7

Iniquity -Psalm 92:7

Horse -Psalm 76:6

Among -Psalm 57:4

Dogs -Psalm 22:16

Worm -Psalm 22:6

Ignorant -Psalm 73:22

Noise -Psalm 65:7

Goats -Psalm 50:13

Swallow -Psalm 84:3

Lions -Psalm 34:10

I -Psalm 61:2

Knowledge -Psalm 19:2

Eagle -Psalm 103:5

Asses -Psalm 104:11

Dove -Psalm 68:13

Owl -Psalm 102:6

Vain -Psalm 33:17

Evening -Psalm 59:6

Answers were received from the following:

Bob VanderZand

Rodney VanderZand

Sharon Bazen

Daniel Bazen

Ed Bazen

Daniel Markus

Lallrie VanEss

Debbie VanBemden

Sally VanBemden

Jeremy Kaat

Louise VandenBrink

Annette VandenBrink

Leona VandenBrink

Karen VandenBeukel

Erika VandenBeukel

Debra VandenBeukel

Ronald Bertram

Reineke Bertram

J oleen Lynn Droge

Mary Ann Droge

Steven Ballm

Cathy Ballm

Howard Eugene Hubers

Mary Hubers

Duane Hubers

Corwin VanVeldhuizen

Dave Hoogendoorn

Kevin Hoogendoorn

Kent Hoogendoorn (2)

Nancy VanderHeide

Jolene VandenBerg

Karen Erkelens

Geoff Erkelens

Susanne Erkelens

Jason DeSmit

Julie DeSmit

Michael DeSmit

Troy DeSmit

Tricia DeSmit

Eric Wielhouwer

? VanSurksum

Jason VanSurksum

Steven VanSurksum

Darla Rus

Jeffrey VanVoorst

Renita Schelling

Pam Schelling

Stephanie Bos

Stephen Bos

Ben Schipper

Katie Ann Timmer

Eric Schipper

Kristina A. Schipper

Patricia vandenHoek

Hilda vandenHoek

Joanna Kranendonk

Hugo Kranendonk

Scott Dibbet

Rachel Dibbet

Cindy Kreft

Kristi Boluyt

Timothy TenElshof

Jonathan TenElshof

Rich TenElshof

Katie Hoogerheide

Joel Bleeker

Eric Bleeker

Steven VanOostenbrugge

Juanita Lagemaat

Rob Lagemaat

Les Lagemaat

Peter Eckhardt

Susy Eckhardt

Gordon Eckhardt

John Eckhardt

Beth Ann Dob

Denise VanDeMoere

Diana VanDeMoere

Nicole Renee Meeuwse

Ken DenDekker

Pieter DenDekker, Jr.

Michelle Teunissen

Brenda Teunissen

Lance Teunissen

Brian Teunissen

Bruce VanBeek

Tim den Hoed

Glen den Hoed

Susan den Hoed

Bruce den Hoed

David Stubbe

Judy Maljaars

Rick Maljaars

Tom Maljaars

Ed Maljaars

Wendy Maljaars

Karen L. De Vries

Kristi M. DeVies

Gary Kersten

Susan Kranendonk

Jim Kranendonk

Ronald Kranendonk

Janelle VanVoorst

Rachel VanVoorst

Kevin Slingerland

Diane Slingerland

Andrew Slootmaker

Sonja Remijn

Peter vanBrugge

William Van Brugge

Natalie Joan Post

Grant Post

Jennifer Sue Rose

Elizabeth VanderMeulen

Constance VanderMeulen

Jim Kraayeveld

Maryellen VanBrugge

Peter Marinus VanBrugge

Michelle VanBrugge

Lisa Hoogendoorn

Shelley Hoogendoorn

Myra VandeStouwe

Jonathan P. VandenToorn

Michael S. VandenToorn

Tammy VandenToorn

Rachel Ekema

Jeremy Fluit

Elizabeth VanderMeulen

Constance VanderMeulen

Jody Ymker

Kevin Ymker

Edward Ymker

Kim VanderToorn

Lisa VanderToorn

Sharon den Hoed

Sheryl den Hoed

Arlen den Hoed

Doug Maljaars

Craig Phillips

Tim Van’t Zelfde

Jeff Boot

Jeremy Boot

Brian Kegel

Vonnie Kegel

Darryl Slingerland

Glenda Slingerland

Anita Van Tilburg

David Rose

Elaine Frens

Pam Lubbers

Steve Lubbers

Greg Lubbers

Carl Mast

Idelette Hofman

Kristy Lamain

Sara Lamain

Joan Lamain

Wendy Talbot

Jim Talbot

Mark Talbot

Sharon Talbot

Lallra Talbot

Nathan VanderMale

Rob Nieuwenhuis

Alyce Nieuwenhuis

Lenny Roth

Anita Roth

Julia Roth

Krista Roth

Hennie Droogendyk

Maria Droogendyk

Ina Droogendyk

Fran VanderMeulen (2)

Benj VanderMeulen (2)

David VanderMeulen (2)

Jennifer Procee

Peter Procee

David Eppinga

Robbin Eppinga

Scott Eppinga

Doug Post

Kevin Post

Vicki Post

Rachael Timmer

Peter Cornelius VanBrugge

Corrie VanBrugge

Linda VanBrugge

Kevin Hoogendoorn

Kent Hoogendoorn

Dave Hoogendoorn

Rita Slingerland (3)

Asyrid Grisnich

Jeffry Knibbe (2)

Nora Knibbe (2)

Kevin Knibbe (2)

Carmel Goudzwaard

Erica Goudzwaard

Stephen Sporte

G. Morvente

Neil Dendekker

Jackie Dendekker

Ronald Bertram

Reineke Bertram

Petra Muis

Neil DeBoer

Peter DeBoer

Jody Lynn Kegel

Stephanie Jo Kegel

Tim Van Surksum

Andre van de Bruinhorst

Karen Nyenhuis

Connie Nyenhuis

Jeff Nyenhuis

Allan Post

Michael Post

Karen E. Wesdyk

John Wesdyk

Cindy Hulshof

Ronald Hulshof

Brenda Hulshof

Dwaine Johnson

Steven Johnson

And again there are letters to answer —

MARIA DROOGENDYK - Your letter is first, Maria. We have also given books in the past to those who answer the quiz. It has been almost two years since we did so, so we should really arrange for another book to be given. Do you do lots of reading?

ANDRE VANDEBRUINHORST - We were glad to have you join in answering the quiz, Andre, and hope you may be able to do so every month. How are you doing in school? I suppose that the end of the school year will soon be here, and you can put your studies to one side for the summer.

CINDY KREFT - We have had some very warm weather already, Cindy. It seems to have arrived somewhat early. Did anyone else get the measles? Has your new brother arrived from Brazil? We are looking forward to hear more about him. Is your great “opa” feeling better?

RACHAEL TIMMER - It was very nice to hear from you, Rachael. We read about storms in the Bible in several places. Can you think of some of them? We know that the Lord Jesus only had to speak, and the storm and wind ceased. It showed that also the storms are under His control.

PETER DEBOER - I am always glad to hear that the whole family works together in answering the quiz, Peter. You were busy with the six of you, and another person wrote that they had eight members of their family looking for the answers. We hope and pray that the treasure which is to be found in God’s Word may be found by many.

LOUISE VANDENBRINK -Yes, Louise, it does seem nice to be outdoors without coats and boots and mittens. There are often many complaints about the weather, but it would be better if we might agree with that which the Lord gives us.

DARLA RUS - Who is your teacher at school, Darla? Do you change teachers every year? Are you taking good care of your lamb? I was wondering how old it will be when it is no longer called a lamb? You can tell I am not much of a farmer, can’t you?

REINEKE BERTRAM - Is that your first niece, Reineke? When you see a newly born baby, you can well understand what the psalmist meant when he said, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Thy works.” Do you know in which psalm those words can be found?

LEONA VANDENBRINK - Did you think the quiz was easy this time, Leona? They are probably easiest when the answers are all found in just a few books of the Bible, but I’m sure you don’t want me to make them too easy. Give our greetings to your parents.

That finishes our letters for this month. Many thanks for the replies again received for the quiz, and we hope that we may meet again next month.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

AN INSOLVENT LABORER

In one of Scotland’s many castles lived a rich baron. He was good and kind to his employees and to the poor and needy in that neighborhood.

It happened that one of his workmen, named Ralph, was in deep need becallse of sickness, and had not been able to pay his rent for some time. His landlord threatened to turn him out into the street if payment was not made within a month. What was he to do? At his wit’s end and greatly worried about his wife and children, he gathered up the courage to visit the baron.

The conversation did not last long; Ralph was soon on his way home with $100. more than he needed for his back-rent. Happily he left the castle after promising to repay the money within a year’s time.

One year later the baron sat at his desk reading, when a servant knocked at the door of his study.

“Come in!”

“Sir,” the servant said, “Ralph is here and would like to see you.”

“Let him come in.”

“Hello, Ralph,” said the baron in a friendly tone. “What can I do for you?”

With much nervousness Ralph explained the purpose of his coming. “You will recall, sir, that about one year ago you loaned me some money. I … I … fully intended to repay it… I hoped to be able to do so … but, alas, I cannot do it. It is impossible for me to fulfill my promise at present.”

The baron listened to Ralph without saying a word. Ralph continued, “I have had many difficulties, much sickness in my family, and.…”

“I know about it,” said the baron, “I know that you have had many problems at home. I also know that you are very diligent in your work and do your best to care for your family. Therefore I am willing to give you another year to make the payment.”

Ralph was much surprised by the baron’s willingness to do this. Thankfulness filled his heart towards the Lord, Who he knew had inclined the heart of the baron. Rising from his chair, the baron shook his hand and accompanied him through the hallway to the door. As they passed through the hall, the baron pointed to a huge painting hanging on the wall.

“Don’t you like this painting, Ralph?”

“I certainly do, sir.”

“Do you know who those men in the painting represent? They are saints, my saints to whom I turn to be my intercessors before God for obtaining the forgiveness of my sins. Every time I am in trouble or distress, I call upon them.”

Ralph, feeling a little at ease, weighed his words carefully. “Is that so? But.…”

“Don’t you agree with this, Ralph?” asked the baron, noticing the look upon his face.

“I hope you will not be angry with me, sir,.…”

“No, no, Ralph; say on!”

“I would like to ask you why you do not turn directly to the Lord in prayer.”

“O Ralph, I would not dare to do that; the saints are much more capable of conveying my request or my message to God than I am.”

“Do you really think so, sir?”

“I do; don’t you, Ralph?”

“No, sir; I would not depend on the saints.”

“Why not, Ralph?”

“Well, you may fare as I did.”

“Explain what you mean, Ralph; let us sit down again for a moment.”

When seated, Ralph continued, “When I saw that I would not be able to repay the money which you had loaned me, I did not dare to speak to you about it, fearing what you might say. However, as the time drew near, I decided to speak to my foreman about it, and he promised to take up my case and plead for me. I was very pleased, certain that all would be taken care of by him. But when I did not hear of any results, I spoke to him again, and found that he had forgotten to do so. Again he promised, but when I heard nothing, I went to the office manager. He too promised to help me, but also seems to have forgotten me. Finally I gathered up enough courage to come to see you about it, and I am not sorry that I did. By coming to you directly, I have accomplished in a few moments much more than I did with them.”

Ralph pallsed a few moments, and then said, “Sir, don’t you think that the Lord is much more gracious and kind to those who may turn to Him? The Lord has done much more. He, the Creator of heaven and earth, left His throne and descended to this sinful earth in order to atone for the guilt of His people. He gave His life for wicked sinners whom He has loved from eternity. He, the Son of God, paid for all the sins of His people, and in this way has opened a free access to the throne of grace for them.”

Ralph noticed that the baron was impressed, even moved, by the few words which he had spoken. This gave him courage and a desire to go on in explaining the way of truth in all simplicity. “O sir, he who truly has guilt before God may go with all his sins directly to Him. If you are really concerned about your sins and how to obtain forgiveness, go to Him Who never casts off those who come unto Him. Sir, do not trust in saints; they will leave and forsake you, just as the foreman and office manager did me, but the Lord shall never forget or forsake His children. Much is at stake, sir, for we are travelling to eternity.”

Here Ralph left off speaking. What he had said came from a heart full of love and concern for this poor rich nobleman. The baron was visibly moved, and without waying a word, he shook Ralph’s hand. With tears in his eyes, he led Ralph to the door.

Not long after this conversation, the baron had his painting of the saints removed from its place in the hallway. Likewise many of the books in his library were replaced with those of the reformers. The words spoken by Ralph were blessed by the Lord, so that they fell as seed in well-prepared soil.

ONE WORD

A young lady was living a butterfly life, going to parties and the “house of feasting,” and careless about things of eternal weight and importance. One evening she returned at a very late hour from some so-called pleasure, and, going quietly into her room, she found her godly maid reading by the fireside, while awaiting her return. The maid did not hear the footsteps of her mistress, who, instead of attracting her attention, quietly looked over her shoulder to see what she was reading. The book was the Word of God, and her eye callght sight of one word, “Eternity.” Such was the power attending the word, the arrow of conviction entered her conscience.

The maid, noticing her mistress, closed her book and attended to her duties, and then both went to bed. In the night the maid heard her mistress sobbing and lamenting, and being one who feared God, she enquired as to the reason. After a while her mistress answered, amidst her tears, “Oh, that tremendous word — ‘Eternity’ — what shall I do? I am a sinner with a never-dying soul.”

Oh, how glad the maid was to hear such things from the lips of her mistress, and to tell her of the way of salvation! The word of conviction proved to be a nail fastened in a sure place. She bade a lasting farewell to worldly parties and theatre, and was enabled to leave her companions, “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”

—Ears for Little Gleaners

ONE BOOK

Robert Aitken, a bookseller in the city of Philadelphia, was the first person who printed a Bible in that city. He had come from Scotland, and was a very godly man. One day a person came into his book store and inquired if he had Tom Paine’s “Age of Reason” for sale. He told him he did not, but, entering into conversation with the man, he found that he was one who did not believe in God.

He said to him, “I have a better book than Paine’s Age of Reason, which I usually sell for a dollar. However, I will lend it to you if you promise to read it; and if, after you have read it, you do not think it is worth a dollar, you may bring it back to me.”

The man agreed, and Aitken put a Bible into his hands. The man smiled when he found what book he had agreed to read, but promised to fulfil his agreement. He did so, but when he had finished reading, he came back to the bookstore and expressed the deepest gratitude for the recommendation of the book. In it he had found a Savior and the way of salvation.

THE BIBLE IN A SOLDIER’S POCKET

It was the custom for Cromwell’s soldiers to carry a Bible in their pocket. During a battle a bullet entered the Bible of a wicked young man (carried in this way). When he opened it afterwards, he found it had penetrated as far as Ecclesiastes: “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” These words by the blessing of God so affected him that they proved to be the means of his conversion. He used to say that the Bible had been the happy means of saving both his soul and body.

-Friendly Companion

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